***
Monday after work, Kit lifted her mail from the black box on her porch. She no longer dreaded opening it. There were letters mixed in with the usual expenses, not the monumental bills she'd received month after month as she whittled down charges Trent had run up. A light blue envelope peeked up at her from behind a post card which reminded her of a dental appointment.
Calling a hello to Byron and Keats who were stretched out on her bed, Kit went to her answering machine, hoping to find a message from Grey. But he hadn't called her cell, at work or here. The red light wasn't blinking and her heart fell. Later in the week she had to go to the store to set up the posters for the promotional day. She also had to get his okay on ads as well as unveil the website. Sure, she could do it all in emails. She could take care of business without a personal word, but she'd prefer the personal words. She'd prefer not having a disagreement between them.
With a sigh she opened the back door and pulled out a chair at her kitchen table. Flipping through the mail, her fingers froze when she recognized the handwriting on the blue envelope.
Trent.
Why would he write to her?
Anger at what she'd let him do to her life made her movements jerky as she lay down the rest of the pile and tore open the blue one. Her fingers shook as she read:
My Dearest Kit,
I'm sure you're wondering why I'm getting in touch with you now after all this time. Over the months I've been here, I've thought about you every day. I know you won't believe it, but you were the love of my life. The other women... Well, there is no excuse for my infidelity to you. I guess my way of life was too ingrained for me to change, even for a wonderful woman like you. But I am changing now
—
I have no choice. Prison has a way of making one look at one's past, one's motives, one's feelings.
I still have feelings for you, Kit. I'd like to see you. It is lonely here and I'd like you to visit. If you did, we could discuss repayment of the debts I left with you. I'm thinking about writing a book about my life. Maybe a movie producer would be interested...or a talk show.
All that aside, I've put your name on my visitor's list and I would like to see you. Please think about it seriously.
Trent
Kit flopped down the letter, picked it up and read it again, then tore it in half. The unmitigated gall of the man!
He didn't honestly think she'd drive five hours...
Yes, he did. That was Trent.
Men. She didn't need any of them.
Then she thought about Grey...and sighed.
***
Grey didn't smile when she walked into the store, so she squared her shoulders and thought "business." But that was difficult when his gaze trailed down her Aztec patterned, short-sleeved sheath, quickly lifted to her sterling triangle earrings, then fastened on her lips. She'd left the jacket to her dress in her car. It was a good thing because despite the store's air conditioning, the temperature felt as hot as the heat outside.
She lifted her chin but Grey's eyes followed her lips. Finally, he broke the spell by stepping out from behind the service desk. "Gus will take over here. We can go back to the office."
"This won't take long," she said in her best businesslike tone.
He frowned and motioned her to precede him down the aisle.
Once inside his office, she kept her distance, made sure their hands didn't touch when she handed him the ads, set up her laptop and the website, then stayed in front of the desk while he walked behind it and lowered himself into the swivel chair.
She waited until he'd looked at it all. When he glanced up at her, she asked, "What do you think?"
"The website is everything we'll need. The ads are fine. Kit..."
Swinging her portfolio onto the desk, she unzipped it. "These are the mock-ups of the posters. I can have them day after tomorrow." She pulled the boards out of the case. "If there's anything you want to change, now's the time."
He didn't look at the boards but picked up a pen on the desk and clicked it open. "I trust your judgment on the posters."
"But?"
"But you have to believe I know what's best for my sister."
"I see. Exactly what does that mean? That I can't give my opinion?"
He threw the pen on the blotter. "Of course not." Standing, he came around the desk and stood close enough for her to touch. "You can give your opinion. Just don't get upset when I disagree with it."
"But if we don't agree..."
"What?"
"How can we disagree and still be...close?"
He stroked her cheek and held her chin in his palm. "Disagreement doesn't have to mean distance. Not if we respect each other."
Kit remembered the arguments between her mother and father. Her father was louder, more forceful
—
he always won. Each argument seemed to put more distance between them until her mother did anything she had to do to avoid an argument. Kit didn't believe in peace at all costs. She knew she could never surrender her will, her thoughts, her beliefs to another person. Grey was saying she didn't have to. Was he right?
Studying him, the hair drifting over his brow, the lines around his eyes that grew deeper when he smiled or frowned, the strong line of his jaw, she knew she wanted to believe him.
He played his thumb across her cheekbone. "What's wrong?"
"Deedee might be too important a subject not to agree on. You said yourself that your last relationship broke up because of her," Kit responded bluntly.
"You don't pull any punches, do you?" he asked with a wry grimace.
"I don't have any illusions."
He searched her face, then his gaze held hers. "I said I didn't agree with you. But I respect your opinion and I thought about what you said. I'm going to let Deedee go camping. I still don't like the idea. Yet in case you're right, in case this is my problem, not Deedee's, I'm going to let her try it."
Grey had courage, and strength of character, and everything Kit could ever want in a man. She realized she was falling in love with him. Head over heels. Full dive into quicksand. Heaven help her.
She mumbled, "You won't be sorry. Deedee will only grow stronger if you give her the freedom she needs."
"I had a long talk with Tanya, and she agrees with you. I still have my doubts. We'll know after the camping trip."
Kit brushed his hair tenderly from his forehead. "You're going to worry all weekend, aren't you?"
He gave her a lazy smile that made her blood run hot and fast. "It depends. You could help distract me."
"By reviewing strategies for the promotional day?" she asked innocently as she tilted her chin, bringing her face closer to his.
"I can think of much better ways," he murmured as his lips met hers.
All Kit's thoughts centered on Grey
—
his taste, his touch, and the hope that this time the risk of losing her heart was worth taking...because this time she'd found a man worthy of her trust.
***
Kit swiped the sweat from her brow Sunday afternoon as she dug into the warm earth in front of Grey's house. Making the hole larger, she dumped the pot with a combination of buds and blooms of bright yellow mums into her hand and plopped the molded earth into the spot she'd chosen. The mums would give Grey's yard some color for the rest of the summer and bloom again year after year.
The drone of Grey's mower in the back yard stopped and Kit felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had something to tell Grey, a decision she'd made. She didn't know why she was nervous about it. After all, it was her decision. But it could start another disagreement, maybe an argument...
So she'd see if Grey's theory was right
—
that they could disagree without creating distance. Thinking back on her relationship with Trent, she realized they'd never argued. Why? Because Trent had always seemed to say and do the right thing, the appropriate thing, whatever would please Kit or make her happy. So she thought. Little did she know that behind her back he was manipulating, maneuvering, defrauding.
With Grey, everything was out front, above-board. She liked that about him. She couldn't be involved with anyone who wasn't honest and forthright. Never again.
So disagreement or not...
Grey came around the side of the house. Kit recognized her pulse speeding up, recognized the way every nerve in her body responded to Grey's appearance, his presence in her life.
His navy tank top molded to his chest and back from the honest sweat of yard work. He'd run his fingers through his hair to swipe it from his brow, leaving it ruffled. His legs were darkly tanned, his cut-offs frayed white against his thighs. She remembered his arms tight around her, his lips
—
hot and sensual
—
on hers. Not only her mind remembered; her body remembered. Her breasts ached to push against his chest, her fingertips tingled at the thought of stroking his face, heat curled in her womb ready to melt as he touched her. She'd never had such erotic thoughts until she'd met Grey. They were exciting, and surprising, and scary because they grew stronger each time she was with him.
Turning away from him and taking a gulping breath, she patted the ground around the mum, letting the earth squeeze through her fingers.
His shadow fell over Kit, shading her from the sun. "They look terrific. It's amazing the difference color makes. The house looks more welcoming."
"We should plant tulips, crocuses, maybe some daffodils, then in the spring you'll have color, too. It doesn't take long to plant bulbs and..." She lost her voice as well as her train of thought when Grey knelt beside her and covered her hand with his.
His voice held a husky edge as he asked, "Why don't you wear gloves when you garden?"
Although his hand on hers made her more aware of his skin texture, his heat, his scent, she managed a smile. "Because I like the feel of the dirt sifting through my fingers. I guess I didn't make enough mud pies as a kid."
He edged closer and brushed her cheek with his thumb.
Self-consciously, she swiped at the spot after him. "I guess I wear my pies well."
"You wear everything well." His gaze roamed to the V of her T-shirt where beads of perspiration had gathered. It was clinging to her like his was. She knew he could see the outline of her bra and maybe even her nipples which now felt hard from Grey's inspection.
When he reached out to her, Kit's breath caught. He ridged his finger along her neckline, tracing the V, causing shivers to skip up and down her back. "Grey..."
His touch teased the point above her bra. Slipping his finger under the edge of her shirt, he pulled her to him. Their sun-dewed skin met, their bodies melded together. Grey didn't hesitate to part her lips and dip inside. Kit's hands went to Grey's neck and her thumbs stroked his jaw. He groaned and deepened the kiss, searching for more, asking for more, taking more.
She gave back the desire, increased it with forays of her own. In the distance, she heard a bee buzz, birds chirping, a car door slam. But the sounds meant nothing, only intensified her awareness of her heartbeat and Grey's. Her nipples rubbed his chest and the damp heat created a delicious friction. Warm earth, fresh-mown grass, Grey's male scent tantalized her nose.
Suddenly, Grey broke off the kiss.
Kit opened her eyes.
He grimaced. "Much more of that and the neighbors will get a real show."
His chest was rising and falling as fast as hers. It was getting more difficult to kiss him and not want a lot more. But she wasn't ready for more yet, and he seemed to sense that. "Grey, we have to talk about something."
"Maybe we're ready to do more than kiss?"
"Uh, no. Not exactly. I mean...Maybe we should wait until we go inside. To talk, I mean."
"What's wrong, Kit? You've been mulling something over all day. Is it Deedee?"
"No. It's...Trent."
Grey blew out a breath and sat on the ground, pulling her down beside him. "What's going on?"
Crossing her legs under her, she watched his expression carefully. Lines had already appeared around his mouth and his not-quite-frown was indicative of his thoughts about the subject. "I received a letter."
"From Higgins?" Grey asked with gruff vehemence.
She nodded and told him what the correspondence said. His frown became a scowl. "You're not going, of course."
That conclusion summed it up for Grey but not for her. "At first, I wanted to dismiss the idea." Before Grey could voice the disapproval arching in his brows, she went on, "But I had lunch with the woman who called me. Remember the day you came to the apartment with the ladder?"
His expression gentled. "I remember very well."
Instead of getting lost in his eyes and the feeling of excitement that had swirled inside her since the moment she'd met him, she concentrated on the subject at hand. "She and I talked for a long time. She has so many regrets, and guilt, and shame. Much of that left for me when I pressed charges. But I realized something's still unfinished. I haven't spoken to Trent since he left with my credit card one afternoon. During the trial, I wanted to wring his neck, not talk to him. I think I need to tell him exactly how much he hurt me, let alone my credit rating."
"You could send him a letter."
She met Grey's gaze and didn't shift away from the disapproval in his eyes. "I need to do it face to face."
He shook his head. "You haven't thought this through. Why put yourself through that? Driving to New York,
"I was hoping you'd understand."
"I think I understand too well."
His undertone made her wary. "I have to finish this, Grey."
"Finish it, or stir up old feelings?"
Anger at his implication bubbled up and spilled over. "I wouldn't be here at your house, planting flowers in your garden if I wanted to stir up old feelings!"
"I'm calling it as I see it, Kit. You always talk about the man by his first name. I don't hear bitterness or hatred in your voice when you mention him. There's almost fond remembrance. How do you explain that?"
Scrambling to her feet, she brushed off her hands and picked up the gardening tools. "I'm through the bitterness and hatred. Thank God. I got justice, in my way. But I did have feelings for the man. It might have been an act, I still don't know, but he made me feel special. Yes, he was a con man. But we had some good times. And he was always gentle and considerate."
"Real considerate. He had two wives in another state," Grey muttered, coming to his feet.
"I realize what Trent Higgins is, Grey. He's a thief. More than the money he stole from me, he stole my ability to trust. That's what I want back. I don't think we can go any farther in our relationship until I get it back."
"If visiting Trent Higgins is the only way you can get it back, I have to wonder what we have. Our relationship should depend on me and you, not a con man who's still looking out for his own skin."
She'd expected Grey's anger, but it proved her point. With a disagreement, somebody had to win and somebody had to lose. They were at an impasse. "I'm going to get my things together and go."
Grey's shoulders straightened, his arms went rigid at his sides. "We're not finished discussing this."
"There's nothing to discuss. I'm going to see Trent. If you don't approve, you don't approve. But I can't live my life to earn your approval."
As she took a step toward the front door, he clasped her wrist and pulled her up against him. The sun beat down on her head as her knees went weak and all she wanted was to feel close to him again.
"You're running, Kit. You're putting up obstacles."
"No. I'm trying to tear down obstacles. You said we could
respect
each other's opinions even when we don't agree. Are you respecting my opinion?"
He abruptly let her go. "I respect your opinion, but I think you're making a mistake."
After a palpable silence, she asked, "So what now?"
He studied her eyes, her mouth, her lips. "I get a shower, you wash up, and we both think about the situation. Then we decide if we want to go play miniature golf or go to the movies." He lifted her chin and winked. "Or we can forget golf and the movies and you can get a shower with me."
He wasn't closing her out, or letting her go, or pushing her away, despite their differing opinions. Her heart felt light and hopeful. Maybe Grey was right. Maybe a disagreement didn't have to put up a wall between them.
"An air-conditioned theater and a tub of popcorn sound good."
He slung his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the house, mumbling, "I didn't think you'd go for the shower."
They heard the beep of Grey's cell phone before Grey opened the door. Taking his arm from around Kit, he strode into the kitchen and plucked it off the counter. He paled a bit, then his expression turned grim. Kit's heart beat faster.
He said into his phone, "I'll be there as soon as I can." Clicking it closed, he turned to Kit. "Deedee had an accident while she was hiking and I have to pick her up. She's at the hospital in Gettysburg with her arm in a sling. Jenny said she's all right otherwise, but I'll believe it when I see it. She also gave Jenny a message. She wants me to bring you along. I have to get my keys and wallet upstairs, then we can go." He didn't give Kit another glance as he went up the stairs.
This is what Grey had expected to happen. Would he blame her for encouraging the trip?